Nashville, February 8, 2008: CAO, one of the world’s foremost premium cigar manufacturers, announced today that it has been selected to provide cigars for the NBA All-Star Weekend 2008, beginning February 15, in New Orleans, Louisiana.NBA All-Star Weekend brings together the NBA’s top players for a week of competition, community service, and world-class entertainment. CAO cigars will assist in transforming the music Mecca into the “Basketball Capital of the World” for the first time. The 57th Annual NBA All-Star game will be played on February 17 and broadcast by a record 123 international telecasters in 215 countries and territories. Selected NBA players and VIPs will receive CAO Gold Corona Gorda cigars and headwear provided by CAO M.E.R.C.H. “We’re honored to be selected by the NBA Players Association as the exclusive cigar sponsor for our third consecutive All Star Weekend,” said CAO Director of Lifestyle Marketing Jon Huber.CAO was selected to provide cigars for NBA All-Star Weekend in 2006 and 2007, and was recently the exclusive cigar sponsor to the HBO® SAG Awards Luxury Lounge.